| GRAND CANYON, AZ. — Grand Canyon National Park will reopen hotels on the park’s South Rim beginning Thursday, September 5 and transition down to Stage 3 water restrictions.
Park water utility crews successfully completed complex repairs to the Transcanyon Waterline late last week and resumed pumping water without identifying any new breaks. The park will operate under Stage 3 water restrictions until the water storage tanks have adequate capacity to return to routine water conservation practices.
Grand Canyon National Park temporarily suspended overnight hotel accommodations on Aug. 29. Since July 8 the 12½ mile-long Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies water from the canyon for use in the park, has had four significant breaks. Until highly complex repairs to the waterline were complete last week no water was being pumped to either the South or North Rim and the park’s water storage was quickly falling to unsustainable levels.
This transition to Stage 3 is a step toward normalizing park operations while ensuring the sustainable management of water resources. We appreciate the cooperation and patience of our visitors and community members as we work to restore these vital visitor services.
Key Updates for South Rim:
Overnight accommodations: Beginning September 5, overnight accommodations will resume at park lodges. This includes facilities operated by Xanterra, such as El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Phantom Ranch, as well as Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village. Reservations are now open, and visitors can book stays at these locations.
Camping: Dry camping will still be permitted, and water spigots at Mather Campground and Desert View Campground will remain turned off. However, visitors can access water at the Mather Campground check-in kiosk.
Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions will continue for the South Rim, prohibiting all wood burning, charcoal fires, and campfires in South Rim and inner canyon areas to support water conservation efforts.
Ongoing Conservation Measures: Visitors and residents are encouraged to continue practicing water conservation:
- Limit showers to five minutes or less
- Turn off faucets while shaving or brushing teeth
- Flush toilets selectively
- Wash laundry with full loads
- Report leaks to park authorities
Following waterline repairs, potable water along the North Kaibab Trail, including at Phantom Ranch, is now available. Hikers should still prepare to bring or treat water if necessary. For current water status in the inner canyon, visit the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates page.
Originally built in the 1960s, the Transcanyon Waterline provides potable water for facilities on the South Rim and inner canyon. The waterline has exceeded its expected lifespan and experiences frequent failures, which require expensive and continuous maintenance work to repair leaks. Since 2010, there have been over 85 major breaks that have each disrupted water delivery. The National Park Service recently started construction on a multi-year, $208 million rehabilitation of the Transcanyon Waterline and upgrades to the associated water delivery system. This crucial investment in infrastructure will ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for millions of annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
Additionally, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is providing over $100 million to replace the South Rim Wastewater Treatment Plant which services visitor, staff, lodging and support facilities and to improve the water delivery system on the Canyon’s North Rim. These investments are complimentary to the Trancanyon Waterline project. The National Park Service’s capacity to properly complete long-needed large-scale infrastructure projects was greatly enhanced by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund. The legislation provides the National Park Service with up to $1.3 billion a year for five years (fiscal years 2021-2025) to address extensive and long overdue maintenance and repair needs in national parks. Its benefits extend beyond its funded projects because it also enables other funding sources to concentrate on additional projects.
— Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. |
